Paralysis of the Muslim mind
The world has changed beyond recognition. The conditions prevailing in the world, its views, trends and theories have entirely changed. The social problems and issues have taken many turns, but our religious leaders are still living in the same old conditions of past centuries. They made no progress and never tried to understand the ever-new changes and the issues and problems emerging from these changes. Rather they tried to hold back their people from adjusting themselves with the changing times and to pull them back to the past. Such an attempt can and did succeed for some time but not forever. No nation can afford to keep itself aloof and unaffected by the new thoughts and issues for long, while dealing with other nations and countries. If their leadership fails to guide them in the ever-new intellectual, academic and practical issues and problems, then it is quite natural that their followers will discard their leadership.
But the trouble lies actually somewhere else. Getting deeply involved in the side issues, our religious leaders ignored the main issues and problems. Later the main issues were eclipsed by the side issues creeping up in thousands. These side issues carried no real importance in Islam but assumed importance like the fundamentals of Islam.
The progress of Islam suddenly stopped when the Muslim religious leaders and scholars gave up delving into the Quran, stopped, ascertainment and scrutiny of the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad , blindly followed exegesis's and narrators of Traditions, when the casuistic works of the jurists and scholars of the past were made unalterable and permanent laws, when direct acquisition of knowledge from the Quran and Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet) was given up and when the side issues and the details worked out by the scholars of the past were regarded as the main and principal issues leaving aside the fundamentals of the Quran and Sunnah.
Muslim scholars and researchers got involved in explaining and debating the out-dated issues instead of leading the world in the new field theories and practice. They differed and debated on the details and inferences of the old scholars, forming new factions and groups on the basis of different religious interpretations, indiscriminately declaring their opponents as infidels and deviators from the path of Islam. Instead of attracting the world to the path of Islam, they started discarding even the Muslims as infidels.
Some blamed religion for all the misdeeds and failure of the religious leaders, holding religion as the biggest hurdle in their march towards progress. They openly called the Muslims to discard Islam and follow the developed nations. Some others made it a point to condemn and abuse the Islamic scholars and the religious leaders, as if the secret of progress and prosperity lay only in this reproach and condemnation of religious leaders. Another group started amending and trimming the religion.
The real remedy is to set right the order already reversed. The Quran should be reinstated to its real place of guidance. The traditions of the Prophet should enjoy the same importance and status as enjoyed in the golden era of the Prophet and his devoted companions and all those related to him. The contributions of the past jurists, scholars, commentators and the Traditionalists should be given the same importance and respect as was given to them by the scholars of those days. We should not tamper with anything that needs no change and yet should not take everything of the past thinkers and scholars as the last word and as unalterable verdict, or that their writings have left us in no need of any further deliberations in the Quran and research on the Hadith or that no further research and thinking on Quran and Sunnah is now possible.
Once this sequence is restored, the impeded train of Islam shall start moving again. The train has stopped simply because the engine has been detached and put behind the train, the driver too has left the engine and is seated somewhere in any back cabin, while it is presumed that the front cabin would not only move by itself but also carry the other cabins with it.
Nobody can allege that the religious scholars had somewhere conferred and decided to impose stagnation on Islam and prevent its onward march. This is simply the outcome of the decline in intellectual, literary and ideational faculties of the Muslim communities and their political, military, economic and cultural vigor and strength.
This decline has not only blighted their fighting spirit but also the enthusiasm in the field of academic research and casuistry. As the concept of life and its various problems underwent a change, so changed their notions about religious and academic issues and by and by all their intellectual faculties decayed.
The only remedy possible is a dispassionate study of the malady in depth and of the extent to which it has spread and, with all wisdom, to replace the wrong with the right.
Excerpted and adapted from the book "Let us change the world" by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi
Views: 4290
for travi can we pray 8 rakah or it must be 20 rakah, I am praying 8 because in our mosque they only pray 8 rakah not 20. How I stand in this case, is my travi is completed or not?
i read your email amnd agree with you and also pray to ALLAH to show all the muslims in the world the right way of life and also pray that all the humenbeings live with each other with repect and looking after each other,
Ameen.
naz.
Very obvious is that World of Islam could not even agree on time of our own festivals. The month of Ramadan and Idd Al Fitr for example is celebrated days apart in most of the parts of the world. In the days of science when one can precisely calculate the orbit of comets and stars for hundreds of years, we could surely predicts our calender for atleast a year!!
Its often embarassing to justify when Idd is celebrated not evenly is the same city and is becoming laughing stock for the enemies of Islam. If one can not agree on fasivities, how come they unite on serious issues pertaining to our religion.
Our leadership is purposely ignorant on such a simple but most delicate issue so that their grip on the mass is being weakened. Every leader and scholars are interpreting the Holy Quran upto his beliefs and often to their benefits. Recently, the interpretations and acts of Jihad by so called leaders has brought the whole Islamic World shame, critisism and isolation. We have been labelled as terrorists and treated with unjustice.
comment on the condition of Muslims in today's
world. And as an added bonus of a road map to take us back to the Straight Path. May Allah shower you
with Light.
Computers, airplanes, and other machines are human artifacts that are designed and
manufactured by human beings for human purposes. Hence, we have knowledge of what caused them to exist. We know that human feet produce prints on certain surfaces from knowledge of human anatomy and previous experience. So, we have a perfectly adequate explanation of these phenomena. However, this frequently made analogy from human machines to the universe does not hold. Nature is not a machine nor a human creation and we lack knowledge regarding its initial state or what caused it to exist. There is no reason to suppose that a creator is the only possible explanation for its existence.
Secondly, if we granted this analogy for the sake of argument it proves nothing. For all we
know there could be many Gods behind the creation of nature and not one. The argument is quite consistent with polytheism. Since there is abundant evil in the world, we can hardly conclude by looking at these "signs" that the creator is good. Once again, read
David Hume, who refuted this argument in detail over 200 years ago.
This "paralysis of Muslim Mind" article is mere verbosity without any real example for anyone to anlyse the facts and without any suggestions for the remedy. It gives the impression as if all the scholars of the past were less scholars than the writer of this article, whereas the fact remains that we are indebted to our salaf for passing on the pristine TRUTH of Qura'an and Hadith to us. As long as we shall hold fast onto these two gems Divine Guidance we shall never go astray. The reason we are paralysed is because instead of holding fast onto Tawheed and Rasalat we love to cling to shirk and Bida'a as the real Islam. We honor the scholars of shirk and Bida'a as the saints and sages of Islam. We hardly know the difference between men of learning and those scholarly sages who earn their living by selling verses of Qura'an and hadith for petty pennies. That is our problem.
Irfan
Do not blame the true, pure ulama for the problems of this Ummah, because the scholars and reformers of Ahlus Sunnah have been the most patient and forebearing, and worthiest of leadership.
Ma Salaama
universe was brought into existence by an external source or creator. Einstein explicitly stated, on more than one occasion, that he did not accept such a concept of God, and that the meaning he attached to the word "God" was the sense of "pantheism" or more properly, "pan-entheism." as used by the Jewish philosopher Spinoza. Einstein deliberately followed Spinoza's use of "God," and saw God as identical with nature, or the totality of all the contents of the universe. Einstein took pains to point out that he did not believe in a God that brought the universe into existence and concerned himself with the well being of his creation.
Furthermore, consider the following remarks by Einstein concerning religion:
A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be
restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
[New York Times Magazine, 09/11/1930]
I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that
survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or absurd egoism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness and a glimpse of the marvelous structure of the existing world, together with the devoted striving to comprehend a portion, be it ever so tiny, of the Reason that manifests itself in nature.
[The World As I See It]
Brother thank you for the comment it opened a window to my mind.
The consciousness of young Muslim's in American society is difficult to conceptualize. Especially to the convert. Oftentimes I or many other individuals have questions and conceivably because of a person's creed or origin. It is not wholeheartedly answered. (Excluding the most sincerely devout Muslims) More emphasis should be placed on the propagation of the DIN. Qur'an and Sunnah instead of trying to advocate how similar our beliefs are to American modalities and sociological interest of characteristically Christian origin. It is confusing me about the tenets of Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) teaching's and how they should be taught. Any and all du'a to be given would be greatly appreciated. I want to know how to teach properly for now and in the future, not stroke someone's hand to appease them to be happy in my presence.
As-Salaamu Alaikum
But in attempt to propagate Islam as current day need we should hold fast to the Quran and Hadith so that we will not deviate from the path of Allah
The Holy Quran should not be temper with in an effort to make research becos right from the era of the Holy Prophet we have not witness any case of contradiction in the Quran so the verses of the Holy Quran should not be a subject to any changes.
Thanks.
If you look at the begining of Islam you will find that Salat, Zakat, Hajj and Fasting and all the laws and rules were not there. What was there was faith and true faith in the hearts of people. All of us, hopfully, do our five pillars, but where is our hearts truely are?
Regarding your post no. 123509:
"Usama Bin Ladan is a great muslim leader he is a great patriot of Muslim Mnkind.ALLAH HAFIZ."
Speak for yourself. What has Usama done to advance Muslim cause? How is he a great Muslim leader?
I don't consider him my leader.
Allah hafiz.
Allah Humma Salle Ala Muhammad wa Ala Aalehi wa Sahbehi wa sallam, Ameen Ya Rubb-al-aalameen.
The prospect of war with Iraq restrained the economy and prompted manufacturers, retailers and builders to cut costs. Seven of the nine major industries tracked by the government shed workers. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Merrill Lynch & Co. predicted the Federal Reserve will cut its benchmark rate by a quarter-point to 1 percent, the lowest since July 1958.
The report ``was frighteningly weak, thereby raising the possibility of a double-dip recession,'' said David Rosenberg, chief North American economist for Merrill Lynch. He put odds of a recession at about 50 percent.
Peace
i was surprised how the author of the article,
could come up with the idea that religious leader
didn't have the ability to deal with the changes
of our current century!!! i am still surprised
that the author seems ignoring whats really going
on in islamic countries!?!?!? still his staying
in his sofa, watching TV entertainment programs
having a nice car and expensives fournitures and
clothes...and his seems that the religious leader
should have a western life style...
No mister whoever you are! keep your opinions for
your self. and stop spreading fitna, i must makes
you correct your background understanding that
the goal of life is to use the Koran and the
sunnah as constitution; which islamic country is
using it???? blame governments that are not using
islam as lwa and way of life and don't blame
religious people who left the doniya for
governments and people likes you who would love
to have a beautiful and nice lifestyle.
get well. salam.
For this very insightful and refreshing perspective on the stagnation of Al-Islam. Actually, I would only add and I'm certain you would agree, the stagnation rest really in the hearts and minds of the Muslims (leaders, and other). It is past due that we (Muslims) take a more responsibility for our own contributions to our demise in this modern era. Enough of blaming others (Americans, Jews etc...) for the on-going staganation within our community. May Allah (SWA) continue to bless you and the believers.
CH (MAJ) Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad
U.S. Army
Dear Sir, Your words ring true. I look forward to the day when the entire world recognizes Jesus as the Lamb of Allah. The Quran clearly teaches that Jesus is the Messiah, born of the virgin Mary, and inspired by the Holy Ghost. And that John the Baptist (Yahya) was of the good. If any of your readers need proof they can look it up for themselves:
Quran, Surah 3:45, 3:55&56, 2:253, 19:16-22, 2:87, 2:136, 66:12, 6:85, [19.7] O Zakariya! surely We give you good news of a boy whose name shall be Yahya (John the Baptist): We have not made before anyone his equal.
WHAT DID JOHN THE BAPTIST TEACH?
> Luke 3
>2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John (Yahya) son of Zechariah in the desert. 3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
>"A voice of one calling in the desert,
>'Prepare the way for the Lord,
>make straight paths for him.
>
>John 1
>29 The next day John(yahya) seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
>
>John 3
>2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
>3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Note* For a full list of Scripture about Isa (Jesus) the Messiah you may contact me at: [email protected]
We are not allotted much space so I shall be brief. I teach philosophy and am conversant
with the Enlightenment period that I invoked in the first post and all you said regarding Islam. But I found nothing in your remarks regarding what could be gained by returning to a sacred text. Your second set of remarks constitute a version of the design or teleological argument for the existence of God which has much psychological appeal, but is almost universally rejected by philosophers since the it was subjected to a devastating critique by the 18th century Scottish philosopher, David Hume, in his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. I would
only politely invite you to read this classic work and see that the very analogies to nature
and machines that you use were treated by Hume in considerably detail and little of this argument survives his criticism.
None of the historical claims you cite regarding Muhammad constitute evidence for the
truth of the contents of the Koran or a reason for believing in God. In other words these deeds fail to support the truth of any theological proposition in any fashion that I can discern.
There have been many great figures in the history of human kind who have accomplished much, some religious, some secular: Aristotle founded biology but I don't hold his words as absolute truth. More recently look at Einstein's contribution to human knowledge, and he was definitely not a believer. In fact, most scientists are not religious nor motivated by relgion. Thanks, I will check out the link though. But have a look at Hume or last year's article by Simon Blackburne of Cambridge University, "An Unbeautiful Mind," in the New Republic magazine. Available online.
thank you
zahid khalil
canada
I read ur article and it was extremely good. I do respect ur thoughts and share the same opinion as u have. Please do keep writing such article. I did enjoy reading it.
dawood
Our Muslim leaders in any feild, especially in the religious feild, need to take a firm stand,get out of their comfort zone and speakloud and clear on issues of importance and deffend muslim culture and muslim rights.! We must not keep ignoring the likes of Jery Fallwal,Grahm and Robertson. It is not enough to keep saying the barking of dogs does not reach the skeis.
This is the time, where we have to stop fighting among ourselves, to stop atrocacies on the muslim world.
What i will sughest is that what you say is ture and the world have changed because the prophet(scw)told as what will happen which means the world is ending.although i dont have time to write but it is good to remind people that the world is ending.
Jazakumu laahu khayra!
ma'a salaama
relates to the progressive nature of enquiry &
scholarship into religion. The reason it has stopped is
because of man's intervention into the laws of ALLAH &
the desire for wealth, power & control, over HIS
subjects. The result is the oppression, suffering & chaos
which we are witnessing today.
Comgratulations for a bold initiative.
But towards the end it appears that you have relapsed in praising the old, including attributing your ideas to Maulana Maududi.
Whether they are 300 passages of The Holy Qur'an, or 8500 narrations in Hadith, there is a message. The message is simple & even known to us.
Honesty is good, deciet is bad
Kindness is good, cruelty is bad
Fairness is good, Selfishness is bad
Modesty is good, arrogance is bad
Respect is good, insult is bad
Order is good, lawlessness is bad
Cleanliness is good, dirtyness (body & mind) is bad.
and we can go on.
But most of Muslims read Qur'an (either as a parrot or as lip service) to earn reward. They also read Hadith to only imitate "monkey see - monkey do" totally missing the essence of the Sunnah of The Prophet.
The so called Ulema, have byepassed the essence and busy hair splitting. Even Abu Alaa Maududi suffers from this. The respected aalim takes one ayah & he 'must' explain it in two pages. This urge compels him to interpretations at times far fetched.
The Holy Qur'an was sent down by Allah (SWT) in a way that unlettered people of 7th Century (AD) could understand. In 90% of the Qur'an a good, word to word translation says it all. Hard thing is to practice it because it asks you to give up your self interest (selfishness) and ego, to be fair, equitable & kind. Qur'an does not asks for any rituals.
Non-Muslims, white-christians practiced the philosophy of Islam & prosperred / progressed. We are still in the ditch inspite of holding the 'Book'.
To shake off this taboo that 700 year old book is better than a 300 year old and certainly better than the current - and to reverse this retrograde mindset, some bold initiatives are necessary; even at the risk of being turned out of the ummah.
There is price for every good thing.
Kind regards,
Br. Khalil
Let me suggest one aspect we need to ponder on. Allah has said "..fight with what they(the disbelievers) fight you with.." Why don't we start thinking of arming ourselves (by all means) with nuclear and all the chemical and biological weapons we can garner?!!! This single reason may be (Allah forbids) the reason for the downfall of Iraq. May Allah forgives us and continue to guide us unto a way to Himself. Ameen.
jamal
eg during prophets time even Umar rad. had differing views about what prophet said and the prophet agreed with Umar rad. but if a decision was made and prophet stood by his decision then every one agreed.
from this we learn the qualities of leadership and how to be loyal to your leaders.
today unfortunately we as common muslims are not good cittizens of islam rather insult and complain about our scholars of deen who have every right to be different in their opinions. which is totaly un acceptable
the prophet said close to the meaning
1- ulema is warisul ambiya ...
1- whoever disrespect his elders does not pay due respect to their scholars is not amongst us.
so condeming or promoting the weaknesses of the ulema is not acceptable rather making effort on the common to be better muslims is the correct path. the problem is muslims are not in agreemnt with their ulema since they do not want to pratise
deen as practised by the sahabah but they like to pratise what they wish islam should be.
i agree not scholara are perfect but atleast they tried to acquire the knowledge of deen while we were busy in our shops and acquiring the knowledge of dunya.
when the write says we have to correct the wrong from right i wonder what he means what right is if he has already stated scholars are useless.
where is he going to get his right knowledge -from the universities of dunya about islam who are continusly trying to mis interpret islam and unfortunately some muslims may be like the writer is getting his version of islam from this institution which makes me clarifies the problem the writer is suggesting
We must work to spread Islam, to spread utter submission to the will of Allah, rather than to promote bloodshed and violence. There is NO Paradise for those who kill in the name of militant Islam, only Gehenna and Shaitan. Seven white raisins (read your Quran) do NOT reward the faithful. Pull your heads out of the sand, brothers and sisters - this is NOT the era of swords & Aladdin & magic lamps - work for world Islam by spreading the message of the Quran and NOT that of jihad - jihad doesn't work now. It (Jihad) hasn't worked since Spain fell to la Reconquista. If we want to win the minds of the West, we MUST appeal to a call back to the love of Allah. Otherwise, we are still just slaves in the palace of the Persian kings.
Part II
A response to your question could end up being very long. So I will try to keep things short.
On the issue of the belief of God one need only look at the many signs around us in nature throughout the universe to lead us to believe in a creator. It is human nature if you were to see tracks in dirt to believe that they were the result of someone having traveled along that path before...or if you were to see an intricate machine such as a computer or airplane, that someone was responsible for its creation. And what is more intricate than the human body which scientists are still studying to understand all its functions today? So if you were to look around us and reflect, then you might understand.
On the issue of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, you should study his character and the history of his life. An illiterate orphan living in the desert was able to transform an entire society socially, politically, and economically with the claim that there is nothing worthy of worship except God. The man was of humble nature and even his enemies claimed that he was the most trustworthy person. He brought the people the message of the Quran, which contained mention of such concepts as embryology, atmospheric, and deep-sea sciences, which was a thousand years ahead of its time. The result of his prophethood led to a society that revolutionized the world for a thousand years to come.
On another note, the following link gives a good response to the role of reason and revelation...
Enjoy.
Part I:
The Age of Enlightenment, which occurred in the 18th century, was known as a culmination and a new beginning. Fresh currents of thoughts were wearing down institutionalized traditions. Amazingly, this was the same environment that existed throughout the early Islamic empire. Muslims were of the belief that a thirst for knowledge was vital and that a dynamic sense of progress was important to ensure a better lifestyle. For this reason, Muslim scholars were able to make great discoveries in mathematics, chemistry, medicine, economics, astronomy, etc. Medieval Europe's exposure to Islam in Spain and during the Crusades was a major part in leading to the renaissance, which in turn led to the age of enlightenment. A turning point only occurred when many lost the true understanding of Islam. The arrogant idea that the world was at their feet led to a static mentality. So, only by returning to the core understandings of Islam can a sense of purpose to provide betterment in society return to the Muslim.
more to come...
Jazakallah
Usayd
Why you always talking about rulers and you can see that the people muslim are the same quality of they rulers ??? All Prophets came on the time where there was lot of troubles but all of them were making efforts to eduque the populations and not focusing on the rulers like you do all the time, SoubhanAllah !!
When the mulim peoples will be good they rulers will be good! ...but now you can see, like me, that the muslin peoples are far from the Islam like they rulers are or maybe more !? So if you have time for Allah you must eduque muslin people's fist able, it is more important then every think !!!
Wa Salamou alaikoum
2:214 Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah." Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!
16:110 But verily thy Lord,- to those who leave their homes after trials and persecutions,- and who thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently persevere,- Thy Lord, after all this is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Wa
Ansar
It is unfortunate that we keep blaming each other for the trouble and tribulations the ummah is facing, and what is even more saddening that no one wants to accept the responsibility. We are all responsible for what is happening, if we do not perform salat on time it is our fault, when we allow our sisters to show themselves and not guide them to hijab it is our fault. When our parents allow the children to watch and participate in what is not islamically sound, it is our fault. When we aknowledge that, then we can move past the who is responsible for what! Times change, the difference is not is advancement or technology, it is that we are measuring up islam to the world when infact it is the world who has to measure up to islam! The message brought from allah is far more superior, we need to live up to the message not the other way round. and try to adapt it to time, because time is irrelevant when humanity is being taught to elevate its morals, practices! Allah swt and his messenger made this clear in the book and sunnah. Let us become muslims first before we go and change or alter or adapt islam we became so lazy we want to change the message because it takes alot more effort to practice the message and live it. May allah help us become better muslims and guide us to uphold what we dropped out of our hands. Mulsims (the true believers) are inheritors of the world, and no one else! that is the goal and that can be only obtained by allah help and guidance of rasool allah! I ask allah his forgiveness for my shortcomings and the sins I have commited in the right of the ummah and allah help us through this difficult time! When we excel as muslims we will excel as thinkers and innovators, then we will become leaders.
Salaam aleikum,
The timelessness of Maududi's observations still hold true today. Interesting because unlike today's "sheikhs" he was educated at the elite school/madrassah of a woman -- his mother.
Specifically 3 items are suggestions:
1. Until we make the evidence from Quran & Sunnah the standard for our discourse and actions rather than blind following/taqleed to bankrupt scholars (many such as Imam Abu Haneefa or Malik had careers outside of being a jurist, unlike our "scholars" or "sheikhs" today who are employees of the state, i.e. welfare recipients)
2. As the article itself implies -- ideas such as blind obediance, blind madhabism, apolitical "spiritualism", or "following traditional islam" have NO place today and are NOT in any way sources of revival.
3. Activism coupled with knowledge - today in the Muslim world if your child fails at everything in life - he then goes on to become a "sheikh" no wonder these people are so disconnected from reality. Activist movements among Muslims MUST take the lead and restore the respect for Islamic knowledge by actively working to put it into practice and demanding accountability by it -- both from others and themselves.
With time our situation will change insha-allah.
salaam aleikum,
s. kashif haque
I think this article's message should be repeated often... Perhaps subsequent articles that discuss how Islam addresses current social, economic, scientific, and political issues would help transition the thoughts and ideologies of people living in the past to the present and future.
Again, great article! If only people could realize that they should be following the teachings of the religion and not worshiping "man-made" traditions.
The article in the most recent bulletin called "Paralysis of the Muslim Mind," excerpted and adapted from the book "Let us change the world" by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi is excellent. Many times I receive things from Islamicity which are wonderful, but this one moved me to write.
How many times I have been in conversations with someone about our brothers and sisters being slaughtered it seems in so many places of the world, widows and orphans with no one to care for them and no one helping them, yet a brother can always find time to pester women and warn us in dire tones about not wearing hijab, just as one example of the kind of stagnation I believe the writer is speaking about. My sisters are dying and some fool worries if she wears hijab and sees nothing more or less of Islam than this? And how many Muslims spend time being so judgmental, that you cannot be a "good" Muslim if you do not observe each little ritual and so on. So there is such a caste system? The "real" Muslims who are better than us who aren't the "good" Muslims? We can't really be Muslim at all, is that what they are trying to say? Subhan'Allah.
Anyway, thank you for such a good article, as ever. I read each bulletin and always find much in them to think about and learn.
Kind regards,
Linda
I agree witht his text and it has been a subject I have been trying to discuss with all Muslims I know, that is, we have to revive Islam in its roots and at the same time we have to be the first ones in acquiring new skills to deal with life, the way it is today. I am a revertes Muslim,psychologist and I see how much Muslims have to treat their minds, because they dont find the answer to their inner problems, and I believe it is because religion has become unclear to them. They dont understand, therefore they cant apply the teachings to their own life.And at the same time they cant take the secular solutions to their problems.So they remain in the middle of the road.Our religion can give the answers to all human needs,but it is necessary to make the teachings known in a more realistic way. I would say nowadays the muslim comunity is a psychological sick community, because it is not well oriented.I try to make it with the little I know, and I have good results.May Allah helps us all.
I would like to see something which encourages the Prophet Muhammad (P.b.u.h)'s exhortation to acquire the sciences.
The sciences will remain as "not-so-religious" if we continue to forget that as the Muslims had progressed in the past so did the scientific method.
I agree with the author of the article. It is time we quit blaming the scholars and develop an attitude which can be beneficial to the current generation of Muslim students.
MEG
Remember its never to late to learn,"iqra bismi rabbikal..."that's ALLAH's words.Follow the flow of modernity in moderation, keep an open mind spend a little time with yourselves and try to reason out how you could improve and be a better person today than you were yesterday, if you told five lies the day before could we reduce and completly eradicate the menance,debts, could we break free from our debts..etc.Importantly, keep a clear mind and a good heart and ask ALLAH SWT for guidance whenever in doubt. Insyallah we shall all progress to make our religion , society and culture the way of a meaningful living.This is indeed true meaning of JIHAD.Ameen
science or reason? In fact, why not reexamine the basic assumptions of Islam and see if they can
withstand critical scrutiny?
Muslims profess to believe in an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, creator of the
universe whose words were vouchsafed to his Prophet Mohammed, and recorded in the Koran.
My question, and indeed my challenge to anyone who holds these beliefs, is to give an argument
that would appeal to a rational, impartial, objective individual. By argument I mean the giving of reasons for the truth of a conclusion without an attack upon someone who dares issue such a challenge, and without an appeal to faith. Faith is useless as an epistemic guide. Faith provides no reasons for preferring one sacred text or religious belief to another and is little more than a refuge from critical evaluation. So, again, I issue the challenge, and I am quite curious at the response.
Most people in this world sympathize with Islamic causes. Americans are bitter because of the terrorist attack that was inflicted upon them. Their lack of self-reflection as a result of the terrorist attack has caused them to behave like a misguided, hurt and angry animal. This has caused the American government as well as U.S. pundits to attack Islam both militarily and academically. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. The more you push Muslims, the stronger and more unified they become.
One of the impediments to this unity has been and still is the men of religion who are paid for by Islamic governments to propagate ideas and interpretations of the Quran to the general islamic public, in ways that have favoured the rulers. Otherwise how come such men contradict their masters.
It is true that we can not serve tow masters!
Firstly these governments are self appointed. Secondly the Prophet pbuh has warned those religious men/women not to accept any money/favour from kings/governments. He has said that if they did then this will turn into fire in their belly on the day of jugement. Men of religion must have a trade whereby they can earn honest living and preach only for the love of Allah.
We must go back to the origin of Islam, learn about Prophet's life pbuh and how he and his progeny alone interpreted the Quran. Discuss every aspect of this religion freely as he would have wanted us to do.
Allah has given us free will and only HE will judge us when we die. We can not make free decisions when we are under bondage of men of religion or tribal dogma. We must let go of all that and go back to simplicity and beauty of Islam, the only religion that encampasses whole humanity in so many simple words that touches the human soul and elevates the ordinary wo/men.
I suggest to all muslims to read widely and I recommend the writings of Dr. Ali Shariati, a great schoolar.
May Allah lead us all to His true path and unify us in people most balanced and just. Only then we can be an example to others. Amen.
Ahmed Asgher
Suggest you all read the whole book written by this author.The author is one of the leading islamic scholar of the 20th century and he is no longer in this world. Rahimahullah.
At this junture, the focus of every muslim should base on "One sole Ummah and One sole enemy" (Ummathun Wahida, Wa Aduwwun Wahid). Let's every body work towards this.
May allah guide us in the correct path
wassalam
Someone FINALLY said it!
Nice to see that there are muslims out there that believe the Ummah is digressing.
The leaders of the muslim lands are keeping their citizens ignorant and blinded so it's easier for them to fill their pockets with the wealth of the lands and deposit it in Swiss bank accounts.
The answers to all of the Ummah's problems are in MUSLIM HANDS.
Until we ALL realize this...work hard to fix it...we will continue to be the doormat for the the rest of the planet.
I can't believe that a quote from a book by Mawdudi is being used! This guy was a fitnah to the Indian Sub-continent and an English pupper, similar to Gulam Ahmed of Qadian. Ahli-Shaitan.
While I am open minded enough to recognize that some of his words are true, his overall message is worthless.
Imam Malik, the 'Imam of Medina' during the time of the Tabien (first generation after the Sahabah), said:"The people of the later times will not be successful until they go back to the ways of the people of the past." He is referring to our times of Fitnah, low Iman and overall ignorance of our Deen, and the solution lying in the examples of the lives of Rasululah (s.a.s.) and the Sahabah (r.a.a.)
The 'end times' so to speak are very near. It's time our Ummah starts waking up, before we find ourselves confused and following the Dajjal...
May Allah ta'ala have mercy on us all, and give us the ability to bring the Complete Deen of Islam into our lives. Ameen.
We have failed as muslim societies because too many muslims started to believe in secularism and given up on believing in the Quran. This very secularism which discriminates against and divides muslims yet supports Anti Islamic forces. We have become too good at being third rate Jews and Christians.
Secular muslims and Arabs have failed to come to the aid of muslims because to them this war on Islam is a religious event and nothing to do with their borrowed secular ideals. What will they say when it is their turn to receive the punishment?
It was secular Iraq regime which sided with non muslim India in the 1965 war with Pakistan. Their secular friends have not come to their aid and ofcourse the ordinary innocent muslims of Iraq suffer.
Our future direction is very simple to grasp and understand and does not need scholarly debate. How can we succeed as muslims if we give up Islamic beliefs? We muslims need to become good muslims first before we can regain our place in the world. We need to start practicing Islam but I do not advocate that we all hit the books and memorise every Sura in the Quran before we can progress, rather, we change our intention from loving this world to loving our fellow muslims as Allah (swt) has commanded us to. When we value a fellow muslims life and honour above personal greed then we will be well on the road to recovery and no tyrant ruler or blood thirsty crusader will stand in our way. I see a glimmer of hope and some change in muslim attitudes. We need to channel this awakening to its logical conclusion.
I believe we should develop a Forum of religious leaders, where all the matters can be discussed and decided.Al Azhar is a good place to start, but involve all the religious scholars of the world and discuss before we can make a decision.
In this time of Internet, Virtual meeting and videophones, I see no difficulty in arranging such a meeting. This is the time for us to get together. If we do not, we will perish, and God will create another people who will carry HIS religion.
Unless and until each and every one in the Muslim ummayah sets aside differences--of cultural background, tribal beliefs and norms, groupist-type interpretations of Islam and the Qur'an,etc., etc.--and unites as one entity, just as the Qur'an suggests, we will find ourselves wandering in the wilderness for centuries, that is, if we manage to survive physically as Muslims. Without absolute unity, we will experience more, not less, of the indignities, the crushing defeats and deprivations of our most basic human rights as Muslims and as human beings.
The Muslim world is waking up after centuries of deep slumber. It may or may not rise up in sufficient strength to meet our technologically stronger foes during this century. One way it could do that would be by getting rid of a lot of irrelevant, unnecessary baggage that we've being carrying as our ?Muslim identity." For instance, this notion of the Arab identity as something exclusive and superior needs to be gotten rid of. And then, this Arab identity must be on very shaky ground and have very little to do with Islamic identity or Deen when we find Kuwaities and Saudi "rulers" locking horns with Iraqis or Iranians as their "enemies" and making themselves puppets of non-Arab powers. It obviously has a lot to do with Greed and Power. Islam is far from the minds of these "Arab Sheikhs." And yet the millions of people inhabitating these lands seem to have no minds of their own, no will, no desire to do the right thing--even by normal decent, human standards. No people can be ruled against their will by anybody, no matter how mighty the force or regime. And yet that is exactly what is happening to Muslims throughout the world at this time in our history.
Unless we unite as one Muslim ummayah, we will get nothing but the Wrath of Allah SWT. With Him on our side, we have nothing to fear--not even the mightiest powers on